2018 Drama Desk Awards Winners

The true story of the Italian opera singer who calmed the nerves of the Spanish king.
DRAMA DESK NOMINATIONS
“Outstanding Costume Design for a Play”
Belasco Theatre
Times Square / Theater District
December 17, 2017 – March 25, 2018

Public Theater
425 Lafayette St
East Village
Tuesday – Sunday
October 3 – November 19, 2017

Lindsay Mendez (Significant Other, Wicked, Godspell, Everyday Rapture & Grease) won “Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical” for her role as Carrie Pipperidge in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel now playing on Broadway. Mendez is a Mexican – Jewish – American actress.

Jonathan Fensom won “Outstanding Costume Design for a Play” for his work on Farinelli and the King. The play is based on the true story of an Italian opera star and a Spanish king.

Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer won “Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical” for their work on Caribbean folk tale Once on This Island now playing on Broadway.

All of the special awards have a Latin connection.

Sean Carvajal and Edi Gathegi of Jesus Hopped the A Train earned a Special Award for their last-minute entrances into the Signature Theatre production by Pulitzer – Prize winning playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis. Carvajal is Dominican – American from Washington Heights, New York City. Gathegi is Kenyan – American.

2018 Drama Desk Awards Nominations

The true story of the Italian opera singer who calmed the nerves of the Spanish king.
DRAMA DESK NOMINATIONS
“Outstanding Costume Design for a Play”
Belasco Theatre
Times Square / Theater District
December 17, 2017 – March 25, 2018

SPECIAL AWARDS –

To Sean Carvajal and Edi Gathegi of Jesus Hopped the A Train whose last-minute entrances into the Signature production of this powerful play ensured it had a happy real-life ending.

Ensemble Award

To Nabiyah Be, MaameYaa Boafo, Paige Gilbert, Zainab Jah, Nike Kadri, Abena Mensah-Bonsu, Mirirai Sithole, and Myra Lucretia Taylor of School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play, whose characters learn the facts of life but whose portrayers taught us all a thing or two about the way things are.

Sam Norkin Award

To Juan Castano, whose varied performances this season in Oedipus El Rey, A Parallelogram, and Transfers not only make a complex statement about American life but also indicate great things to come for this talented performer.

61st Drama Desk Awards 2016

Michael Urie (Ugly Betty) hosts the 61st Annual Drama Desk Awards for excellence in New York City theatre at The Town Hall in Midtown, Manhattan on Sunday, June 5, 2016 at 8 pm.

Latin Nominees 2016

Italian-American Joe Mantello is nominated for Outstanding Director of a Play “The Humans.”

Italian-American Michael John LaChiusa is nominated for Outstanding Lyrics and Outstanding Book of a Musical for “First Daughter Suite.”

Italian-American Sara Bareilles is nominated for Outstanding Music for “Waitress.”

Panamanian-American Daphne Rubin-Vega, remembered for originating Mimi Marquez in “Rent,” is nominated for Outstanding Solo Performance in “Empanada Loca.” The show is also nominated for Outstanding Lighting Design for a Play (Bradley King), and Outstanding Sound Design in a Play (Ryan Rumery).

Outstanding Play

Outstanding Musical

First Daughter Suite, Public Theater
Daddy Long Legs
School of Rock
Shuffle Along ~ WINNER
Waitress

Outstanding Revival of a Play

Cloud Nine, Atlantic Theater Company
Death of a Salesman, New Yiddish Rep
Henry IV, Donmar Warehouse at St. Ann’s Warehouse
Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Roundabout Theatre Company
A View From the Bridge ~ WINNER
Women Without Men, Mint Theater Company

Special Awards

The Humans – Special Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble

Cassie Beck, Reed Birney, Jayne Houdyshell, Lauren Klein, Arian Moayed, and Sarah Steele spend a very special Thanksgiving Day together in Stephen Karam’s play, reminding us that home is indeed where The Humans are.

The Royale – Special Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble

The heavyweight cast of McKinley Belcher III, Khris Davis, Montego Glover, John Lavelle, and Clarke Peters gels as a unit in bringing Marco Ramirez’s story, inspired by Jack Johnson, to unforgettable life, offering a trenchant statement on racism in America.

Sheldon Harnick – Special Drama Desk Award

New productions of Fiddler on the Roof, Rothschild and Sons, and She Loves Me this season remind us that this veteran lyricist’s takes on faith, family and community are as resonant as ever.

Camp Broadway – Special Drama Desk Award

For more than 20 years, this indispensable organization has introduced young people to the magic of theater. Camp Broadway plays a crucial role in creating tomorrow’s audiences.

Danai Gurira – Sam Norkin Award

Whether writing about women in wartime Liberia in Eclipsed or about an affluent immigrant family from Zimbabwe struggling with assimilation in Familiar, Danai Gurira demonstrates great insight, range, and depth, bringing a fresh new voice to American theater.